House bill sets $24.4B NASA budget and backs Moon-to-Mars push

What does this do?

HR 7273 reauthorizes NASA by setting agency goals and approving a budget to keep it operating. The bill supports the Artemis program, which aims to return astronauts to the Moon and eventually send people to Mars, and directs NASA to partner with private companies on spacesuits, commercial space stations, and lunar landing systems. It also addresses wildfire technology, drone traffic management, hypersonic aircraft research, hydrogen-powered planes, and the development of a standardized lunar time system.

Who does it affect?

NASA employees, astronauts, private aerospace companies, universities, and research institutions are directly affected through mission priorities, contracts, and education funding. The bill also restricts federal money from going toward certain space activities involving China.

Why does it matter?

The International Space Station is planned to be safely brought out of orbit and burned up over the ocean by around 2031, and the bill directs NASA to manage that transition. Without reauthorization, NASA would lack a defined budget and set of priorities for 2026 and beyond.

What does it cost, and who pays?

The bill would authorize approximately $24.4 billion for NASA for 2026, covering space exploration, science, aeronautics, and education.

Where does it stand?